Karel Jaromír Erben

“ And see—just at that moment dread,
The cock crows, and the dead falls dead.
And all around the cocks crow clear,
The night is past, the dawn is near.
The dead one lies upon the floor,
Just as he went to open the door. ”

“ They are alike one like the other;
Like two eyes, from the selfsame mother,
And see her thread is silken.”
“Granny, your words I do not like—
Do as I order, that is right.
To-morrow when the dawn is nearing,
Bring your stepdaughter, her heart cheering,
Unto my kingly castle.”
PART THIRD.
“Arise, my daughter, it is time—
The king waits—’tis a merry rhyme—
The banquet’s ready; sure, I never
Spake better for you—though I never
Dared hope for such an honor.” ”

“ In tree I’ll drive a nail with will,
And so end all my sinning.”
“What last word will you leave the youth,
Daughter mine?
What last word will you leave the youth
Who used to come to us, forsooth,
And loved thee for a season?” ”

“ Senseless from his clasp she swooneth,
In the bridegroom’s arms falls slow.
Cries and amazement—music stops—
They all rush to help the bride.
Where is the man? The unknown guest!
Away! Dark is the night to hide! ”

“ Poor maiden, why your feet are sore,
And blood runs where your feet you tore.
The weeds are covered with your blood,
But on he strides with heavy thud.
“The night is fine such nights the dead
Seek out the living, I’ve heard said. ”

“ No other pay will answer.”
The lad jumped on his fiery steed,
The precious whirl he held with heed.
The queen looked out of the window high,
“If I had that whirl—and she did sigh,
“To match my golden distaff.
“Get up, my mother, from your seat,
And ask the price of that whirl so neat!”
“For eyes, my lady! The whirl to-day,
’Tis my father’s will, I must obey,
For two eyes you can have it.”
“For two eyes! Are you crazy, lad?
Who is your father, speak out, lad?” ”

“ A corpse is laid with no one near.
Ah, what is this—this nameless fear—
The ghouls are stirring—they are here!
One hears them—they are gliding on—
And strange and weird their ghostly song.
“The body to the earth is told,
Alas! for him who lost his soul.” ”

“ THE ORPHAN.
“Whose child is this that in the wintry storm,
The cutting north-wind, with its snow and ice,
At midnight in the graveyard walks forlorn,
And seeks a grave amidst the snow and ice?”
“Mother, oh my loving mother, hear me,
Your little daughter calls, oh hear me now;
I am forsaken of all men, I see ”

“ For that beautiful spinner.”
“Oh, master king, ’tis strange, most strange—
Who would have thought of such a change!
We are not worthy, oh, master king,
To dare to think of such a thing;
We are poor, humble people. ”

“ Spin around, whirl around, spinning wheel mine,
Man’s life is a dream, and a trying time,
And life is a puzzle hard to divine.
Oh, better to live hoping,
And our future not to see,
Than to know what will befall,
When we cannot, cannot flee.
↑ Veník (Václav) Wenzel. ↑ In Bohemia when a young girl or lad dies, they are followed to their grave by bridesmaids or grooms; the richer the dead the larger the number; the girls wear wreaths of myrtle and are dressed in white. ”

“ And on the door one heard them rap,
And awful was their tap, tap, tap.
“Arise, oh dead one, from thy bier,
Pull back the latch, we all are here.”
The dead one opens wide his eyes,
He makes as though he would arise. ”

“ The spinning-wheel is strong and nice.”
“Buy it, my lady! It is not dear—
My father is cheap—you need not fear,
For two feet he will give it.”
“For two feet! ’Tis a strange, odd price—
Still I will buy—the wheel is nice. ”

“ Down on her knees the maiden is gazing
The other one stands by her side.
“Hannah, dear Hannah, oh gold heart, now say,
What is it the future can hide?”
“I see a cottage—but all in a mist—
Like the one Veník [1] is building. ”

“ Will go, till one of us has died.”
She nears the table where they stand,
She creeps along as shadows creep.
The wretched mother hardly breathes—
She clasps her child, that does not weep.
Alas! alas! that fatal call ”